Restricting the execution of copy services commands

Abstract

A system and method for controlling peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) operations initiated from one or more host devices that desire to store data contents written to a first storage system to a second storage system over a communications link. The system enables receipt and generation of copy services commands from host devices and the determination of whether a received command pertains to a copy service over an established PPRC relationship for that particular customer to enable that customer to perform storage operations effecting data written to a first storage server having source volumes and stored in a remote second storage system having target volumes. The copy services command effecting data contents of source volumes and/or remote target volumes will be enabled if it is determined that said PPRC relationship is already established for that customer; and, prevented if the received copy services command does effect any volume not already in a copy services relationship.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application relates to and wholly incorporates the subject matter of commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Atty Dckt. # TUC820030048).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) or Flash Copy (FC) data storage technology, and specifically, to methodology for deactivating the ability to establish new PPRC- or FC relationships between devices via in-band commands after initialization of the disaster recovery configuration is complete. [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0005] Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy (“PPRC”) is a hardware-based disaster recovery solution designed to maintain a mirror image of application data at a remote secondary location. Particularly, key to PPRC, is the migration of data sets from mass storage devices, such as hard disk drives or other data storage media, to another set with a mini...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a system and method for controlling peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) operations initiated from one or more host devices that desire to store data contents written to a first storage system to a second storage system over a communications link. The system enables receipt and generation of copy services commands from host devices and the determination of whether a received command pertains to a copy service over an established PPRC relationship for that part

Problems solved by technology

The data on tape must be “consistent”, therefore writes to the data cannot be allowed during the backup.

During the PPRC Resync, the secondary is not in a “consistent” state until the Resync finishes, therefore

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